Nahweenah Human Induced Regeneration Project

Nahweenah Human Induced Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located approximately 140km northwest of Bourke in the remote outback of New South Wales. It was registered in December 2022 and covers 17,624.60 ha.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve regenerating permanent native forests by ceasing or altering land management practices that previously suppressed tree growth. A standard requirement for these projects is protecting the regenerating vegetation so that it can eventually achieve a forest cover status, typically defined as trees reaching at least 2 metres in height and achieving a crown cover of at least 20%.

The broader Bourke region features a semi-arid climate characterized by low average annual rainfall of around 300-350mm. The regional landscape is typically dominated by red sandy loams and arid clay soils. Given the environmental conditions, the primary land use in this remote area is broadacre livestock grazing, particularly for sheep and cattle.

To achieve carbon abatement, the Nahweenah project activities involve the strategic management of the timing and extent of grazing, alongside the humane management of feral animals. A notable aspect of this project is its reliance on assisted regeneration from resilient in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers. This focuses on re-establishing permanent even-aged native forests on land that was previously cleared of vegetation and where regrowth had been successfully suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project's commencement.